Authors

Date of this Version

1973

Citation

Published in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Volume 2 (1973).

Comments

Copyright 1973 by the author(s).

Abstract

Cardiovascular fitness levels were determined for eight urban police officers by maximal treadmill stress testing and pulmonary evaluation. Average age, height, and weight characteristics were 33.1 years, 182.9 cm and 101.6 kg respectively. Measurements of heart rate and blood pressure were obtained for the pre-exercise, exercise, and post-exercise periods. Lactic acid levels were determined at pre-exercise and again at post-exercise. Maximal aerobic power and pulmonary volumes and mechanics were also determined. Average maximal aerobic power and terminal heart rate for the treadmill test were 28.51 ml/kg/min and 186.5 BPM respectively. Four of the police officers were found to be in "very poor" cardiovascular fitness by the Cooper classification. One was in "poor," two were in "fair," one was in the "good" category. None were rated "excellent." Average lactic acid levels were found to be 14.40 mg% at pre-exercise, and 142.0 mg% at ten minutes post-exercise. Pre-exercise blood pressure levels averaged 136.8 mmHg systolic and 85.75 mmHg diastolic. Terminal blood pressure was 187 mmHg and 71.00 mmHg respectively for systolic and diastolic values. Body weight classification indicated the group was 26% overweight. FVC averaged 119% of predicted and FEV (1 sec.) was 86.2% of actual FVC. Pre-exercise sitting systolic blood pressure was found to be 8.4% higher than predicted and the diastolic reading 8.3% above predicted. Results indicated that the police officers had normal pulmonary function, were overweight, moderately hypertensive, and had a "poor" level of cardiovascular fitness. A systematic program of aerobic exercise was recommended.